Hall of Fame
Walter Riddle – Sunshine State Conference (Assistant Commissioner, 1991-2001)
Walter Riddle has spent the past 15 years leaving his mark on the Sunshine State Conference. In between two stints as the sports information director at Saint Leo University, a post he held from 1989-90 and returned to in 2001, Riddle dedicated 11 years to helping the SSC move forward as the Conference’s assistant commissioner. During his years at the SSC office, 1991-2001, Riddle was involved in creating and administering many of the activities and programs that have helped the Sunshine State Conference evolve into the “Conference of National Champions”. He assisted with the transition from a split office in the early 1990s to the Orlando-based office of today. He was instrumental in taking the office through the modernization of computer generated statistical programs and handled all sports information duties at the SSC office for its eight member schools. Riddle chaired the SSC Hall of Fame Committee, oversaw and produced one of the nation’s largest Division II television packages, served as chair of the 1,500-member CoSIDA convention held in Orlando in 1999 and also initiated SSC workshops for league SID’s to ensure consistency among member institutions. While serving as the current director of sports information and marketing at Saint Leo, Riddle has served on the CoSIDA National Board of Directors and as chair of the Saint Leo Athletic Hall of Fame. He has worked to create partnerships in excess of $25,000 for intercollegiate athletics at Saint Leo and increased media exposure for the Lions. Over the years, Riddle has left his mark as a teacher, mentoring four people who have gone on to become SIDs at SSC schools and countless others who have made their mark in the profession. Prior to working in the conference office, Riddle was an accomplished sports editor and writer for several newspapers, including the Tampa Tribune, Columbia Record (S.C.) and Asheville Citizen (N.C.). During his 13 years at the Tampa Tribune, Riddle was honored with five state awards.